Bathtub cushion with silicone gel and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A bathtub cushion includes a mat sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of a bathtub and having a top and a bottom. One or more attachment devices are coupled to the bottom of the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub. One or more silicone gel packs are coupled to the top of the mat and constrained by the mat. The mat circumscribes the one or more silicone gel packs.

PRIORITY CLAIM/RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/688,359, filed Jan. 15, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/223,776, filed on Sep. 8, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,159, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This is continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/223,776, filed on Sep. 8, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,159, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This is related to U.S. Design Pat. D543,405.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a bathtub cushion.

2. Related Art

Soaking in a hot bath is both relaxing and therapeutic, and has long been a sought after luxury and creature comfort. However, bathtubs are made of hard, water resistant materials such as ceramic, cast iron, or acrylic composites, which provide rigid, inflexible surfaces that are uncomfortable to lie on for extended periods of time. Bath mats and tub liners have been developed to provide a more comfortable surface for extended use.

Bath mats are often relatively thin, and usually cover only the bottom surface of the bathtub. Bath mats typically are used to provide a non skid surface on the bottom of the tub, but some have been developed to provide a more cushioned surface to a tub occupant. Most mats, however, do not provide cushioning against side surfaces of the tub.

Tub liners have been developed to provide a cushioned surface for a tub occupant. Tub liners have usually been made of foam or an inflatable bladder. These types of cushions have been problematic in bath tubs because they float and are difficult to secure on the bottom of the tub underneath an occupant. They also retain water making them difficult to manipulate and clean after use.

Additionally, lying on a mat or liner for an extended period of time can cause discomfort due to limitations in the flexibility and compressibility of the mat or liner. Such discomfort is often located in peak pressure points such as joints or major muscle groups as a result of edema.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a bathtub cushion that equalizes the pressure across the contact area of the bathtub occupant being cushioned. It would further be advantageous for the cushioning element to conform to the shape of the bathtub occupant while evenly distributing a supporting force across the contact area of the cushioned object and avoiding pressure peaks.

The invention provides a bathtub cushion with a mat sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of a bathtub and having a top and a bottom. One or more attachment devices are coupled to the bottom of the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub. One or more silicone gel packs are coupled to the top of the mat and constrained by the mat. The mat circumscribes the one or more silicone gel packs.

In addition, the invention provides a bathtub cushion with a flexible mat sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of a bathtub. A plurality of separate and distinct gel packs are coupled to and are circumscribed by the mat. The plurality of gel packs include a gel material contained in a flexible skin. At least one attachment device is coupled to the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub. The mat or the plurality of gel packs includes at least one aperture extending therethrough.

Furthermore, the invention provides a method of using a bathtub cushion by disposing the bathtub cushion in a bath tub. The bathtub cushion includes a flexible mat sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of the bath tub. A plurality of separate and distinct silicone gel packs are coupled to and constrained by the mat. The mat circumscribes the plurality of separate and distinct gel packs. At least one attachment device is coupled to the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub. The method further includes securing the bathtub cushion to the bottom and the side of the bath tub with the least one attachment device. The bathtub is filled with water and the mat is laid on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a bathtub cushion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional end view of the bathtub cushion of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the bathtub cushion of FIG. 1 shown disposed in a bathtub;

FIG. 4 is a partial broken away schematic perspective view of the bathtub cushion of FIG. 1 disposed in a bathtub;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another bathtub cushion in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of another bathtub cushion in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of another bathtub cushion in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT(S)

The present invention provides a bathtub cushion shaped generally to fit on the bottom and along a portion of the side of a bathtub to cushion the bathtub occupant from the hard and inflexible surfaces of the bathtub. The bathtub cushion can include silicone gel packs configured to support a bathtub occupant, and which are constrained by a mat. The mat can support and contain the gel packs along a peripheral edge. The occupant can rest in the bathtub on the bathtub cushion, with the gel packs supporting the occupant. The gel packs can equalize the pressure across the contact area of the occupant being cushioned. The gel packs conform to the shape of the pressure points of the occupant while evenly distributing a supporting force across the contact area of the cushioned occupant and avoiding pressure peaks.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a bathtub cushion, indicated generally at 10, is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention for use in a bathtub 14, and includes gel packs 18. The bathtub cushion 10 can include a flexible mat 22 that is sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of a bathtub 14. The mat 22 has a top and a bottom. The mat can be formed of a flexible water proof or water resistant material, such as vinyl. One or more attachment devices, such as suction cups 26, are coupled to the bottom of the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub. For example, suction cups 26 can be affixed to the bottom of the mat and can removably attach by suction to the bottom and the side of the bathtub. The suction cups can be formed of plastic and can be affixed to the pad by sonic welding.

One or more gel packs 18 are coupled to the top of the mat 22 and constrained by the mat. The gel packs can be separate and distinct from one another, and spaced apart from one another and separated by portions of the mat. The gel packs 18 can be silicone gel packs with a silicone gel material 30 in a flexible skin 34. The flexible skin 34 can form an envelope completely surrounding the gel material 30. The gel packs can be coupled to the mat by affixing the flexible skin 34 to the mat 22. The gel material, such as the silicone gel material, can have a density equal to or greater than water. Thus, the gel packs or silicone gel packs can be neutrally buoyant or not buoyant to remain on the side and bottom of the bathtub without floating. The mat can circumscribe the gel packs so that each gel pack is surrounded by a perimeter defined by the mat.

The gel packs 18 are sized to receive a portion of a user's body, such as the user's shoulders and buttocks. Thus, the gel packs can have upper back gel pack 18 a sized and shaped to receive the user's shoulders and upper back. In addition, the gel packs can include a lower buttock gel pack 18 b sized and shaped to receive the user's buttocks. The gel packs 18 can be wide or broad with a width and a height greater than a thickness. Thus, the gel packs can define a flat layer with the gel pack therein. As described above, the mat 22 can be flexible so that the gel packs can define different flat layers that can be oriented transverse to one another when the mat is folded. For example, the mat can include two gel packs, such as upper and lower gel packs, separated by a narrower neck portion 38 of the mat 22 that can define a fold area where the mat can be folded so that the upper back gel pack 18 a can be disposed against the side of the bathtub, and the lower buttocks gel pack 18 b can be disposed against the bottom of the bathtub.

The mat 22 and/or the gel packs can include one or more apertures 42 extending therethrough. The apertures 42 can allows water to flow through the mat and/or gel cushions to facilitate placement in a bathtub already filled with water, or to facilitate draining of the water from the bathtub, or to facilitate movement of the user on the cushion 10.

The cushion 10 and/or mat 22 can have a perimeter 46 around the gel packs 18. The attachment devices or suction cups 26 can be disposed in the perimeter 46 of the mat 22. As discussed above, the matt can be flexible. Thus, the perimeter 46 can be bendable so that the attachment devices or suction cups are in the same plane as the gel packs 18, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, a portion of the mat with the gel packs can rest against and abut to the side and bottom of the bathtub, as shown in FIG. 3. Locating the attachment devices or suction cups outside the perimeter of the gel packs resists puncture of the flexible skin of the gel packs and resists poking the user.

The mat 22 can be rounded with a rounded figure eight shape, and the gel packs 18 can be round, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the cushion 10 c can have a mat 22 c with a more square figure eight shape, and gel packs 18 c that are more square, as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the cushion 10 d can have a plurality of gel packs 18, including a torso gel pack 130, a head gel pack 132, and a pair of shoulder gel packs 134, coupled to the mat 22 d. The torso gel pack 130 can be located near the center of the bathtub cushion 10 d. The head gel pack 132 can be located longitudinally adjacent the torso gel pack 130. The shoulder gel packs 134 can be located laterally adjacent the torso gel packs 130 and head gel packs 134. The gel packs 130, 132, and 134 can be shaped and located to correspond to the torso, head and shoulders of the bathtub occupant. The should gel packs 134 can be configured to wrap around the shoulders of a bathtub occupant in which case they would extend at least partially along the bathtub sides. It will be appreciated that the gel packs can have different thicknesses corresponding to different weight receiving characteristics of the respective gel pack.

Referring to FIG. 7, the cushion 10 e can have a single gel pack 138 that is sized to accommodate both the user's torso, or shoulders and buttocks, coupled to the mat 22 e.

The present invention also provides a method of using a bathtub cushion including disposing a bathtub cushion with gel pack(s) as described above in a bath tub. The bathtub can be filled with water. The water can flow through the openings. An occupant can enter the tub and lie on the mat.

It will be appreciated that the tub can be filled with water after the bathtub cushion is placed in the bathtub, or the bathtub cushion can be placed in a bathtub already full of water and submerged to the bottom of the tub.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below. 

1. A bathtub cushion, comprising: a) a mat sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of a bathtub and having a top and a bottom; b) one or more attachment devices coupled to the bottom of the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub; c) one or more silicone gel packs coupled to the top of the mat and constrained by the mat; and d) the mat circumscribing the one or more silicone gel packs.
 2. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of separate and distinct silicone gel packs disposed in spaced apart relation on the top surface of the mat and separated by a portion of the mat.
 3. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 2, wherein the plurality of silicone gel packs further comprise an upper shoulder and upper back silicone gel pack sized and shaped to receive a user's shoulders and upper back, and a lower buttock silicone gel pack sized and shaped to receive the user's buttocks.
 4. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 3, wherein the mat is flexible and the silicone gel packs are each disposed in different flat layers which are oriented transverse to one another.
 5. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mat forms a perimeter around the silicone gel packs; and wherein the one or more attachment devices are located in the perimeter of the mat.
 6. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 5, wherein the mat is flexible and the perimeter is bendable so that the one or more attachment devices are disposable in a planar layer with an adjacent silicone gel pack.
 7. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mat and the one or more silicone gel packs include at least one aperture extending therethrough.
 8. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 1, wherein the silicone gel packs comprise a silicone gel with a density greater than water so that the silicone gel packs are neutrally buoyant or not buoyant.
 9. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 1, wherein the silicone gel packs comprise a silicone gel contained in a flexible skin.
 10. A method of using the bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 1, comprising: disposing the bathtub cushion on the bottom and the side the bathtub and securing the bathtub cushion to the bottom and the side of the bathtub with the onre or more one attachment devices; filling the bathtub with water; and laying on the bathtub cushion.
 11. A bathtub cushion, comprising: a flexible mat sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of a bathtub; a plurality of separate and distinct gel packs coupled to and circumscribed by the mat; the plurality of gel packs including a gel material contained in a flexible skin; and at least one attachment device coupled to the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub; and the mat or the plurality of gel packs including at least one aperture extending therethrough.
 12. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 11, wherein the gel material includes a silicone gel.
 13. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 11, wherein the plurality of gel packs further comprise an upper shoulder and upper back gel pack sized and shaped to receive a user's shoulders and upper back, and a lower buttock gel pack sized and shaped to receive the user's buttocks.
 14. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 13, wherein the gel packs are each disposed in different flat layers which are oriented transverse to one another.
 15. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 11, wherein the mat forms a perimeter around the gel packs; and wherein the one or more attachment devices are located in the perimeter of the mat.
 16. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 15, wherein the perimeter is bendable so that the one or more attachment devices are disposable in a planar layer with an adjacent gel pack.
 17. A bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 11, wherein the gel packs comprise a silicone gel with a density greater than water so that the silicone gel packs are neutrally buoyant or not buoyant.
 18. A method of using the bathtub cushion in accordance with claim 11, comprising: disposing the bathtub cushion on the bottom and the side of the bath tub and securing the bathtub cushion to the bottom and the side of the bath tub with the least one attachment device; filling the bathtub with water; and laying on the bathtub cushion.
 19. A method of using a bathtub cushion, comprising: disposing the bathtub cushion in a bath tub, the bathtub cushion including: a flexible mat sized and shaped to fit on a bottom and a side of the bath tub; a plurality of separate and distinct silicone gel packs coupled to and constrained by the mat; the mat circumscribing the plurality of separate and distinct gel packs; at least one attachment device coupled to the mat to retain the mat on the bottom and the side of the bathtub; and securing the bathtub cushion to the bottom and the side of the bath tub with the least one attachment device; filling the bathtub with water; and laying on the mat. 